Home: CS Fanfic//Book One

Chapter 27- Tense

Zack struggled to hold both Ivy and himself back as they watched Carmen run out of the building yet again, something small and gleaming in her hand. His sister pushed against his arms, wanting to bolt straight to their friend, but he knew they needed to wait for Shadowsan.

"Ivy, please, just a little longer! The same thing that just happened to her could-"

"I know it could happen again, Zack!" Ivy hissed at him and glared with her blue eyes. "That's why I have to get to her before-"

"No, Ivy, listen to me," he hugged her tighter and dragged her farther back into the jungle. "Without Shadowsan, or a real plan, everything could fall apart. We need to wait-"

But Ivy wasn't listening. She was staring at Carmen again, her eyes angry. They suddenly flared with fear and shock, however, and Zack couldn't help but turn as well.

Carmen had the gleaming thing raised over her arm, and he understood now why Ivy looked so terrified. The thief seemed to suck in a breath as the moon slid out, revealing further what she held, and-

She plunged the knife into the flesh right in the middle of her elbow and shoulder.

Something desperate and sorrowful slipped from both his and Ivy's mouth's as Carmen gave an agonized scream, and he had to remind himself to keep breathing. Ivy almost immediately broke free from his hold and once again ran for the end of the trees, but a shadow stopped her.

"No, Ivy. Not yet." Shadowsan frowned at her, his own gaze darkened with rage as her surveyed Carmen's slumped, silent form.

Zack watched with them as Carmen seemed to grab something from the wound and let it drop, and his shock quickly changed to relief when she stood. Blood dripped from her fingertips to the dusty ground, and Ivy pried his arms from her around yet again to point to their friend.

"Can I go get her now?" she seethed, teeth grinding.

"Wait for her to come to us," he hissed back.

"But what if she can't?" Ivy turned to him, her panicked eyes matching his own swirling emotions. "Just look at the state that she's in! Anyone would've passed out long before now! She needs our help."

"Well, then I guess it's a good thing that Carm isn't anyone else, Ivy. We need a plan."

"I'm working on it," Shadowsan's normally calm voice was ragged as Carmen wobbled on her feet, her eyes glinting dully under the moon. "So far, there are no signs of any VILE operatives-"

His reply was cut off as Dr. Bellum appeared from the building.

Ivy growled and narrowed her eyes angrily as the VILE staff member pointed a crackle rod at Carmen's chest and offered what looked to be a pair of cuffs, saying something inaudible. The anger was swept away from her expression, however, when the thief suddenly lunged forward and knocked Bellum to the ground.

The scientist stayed down, and Shadowsan stepped forward. "That's our cue." He gripped his sword tightly, taking another step past the tree line. "Let's go get her."

"Wait," Player hissed, his voice emitting quietly from Zack's phone. "Activity just blew up from inside the compound. Something's about to happen."

They were all blinded by the glaring lights as they turned on, illuminating the entire clearing and giving it a wight-washed edge.

"Carm's bleeding bad," Zack muttered, shadowing his eyes as the light made Carmen's form fully visible.

"And we've got company." Ivy pushed herself back into the bushes, pointing to where operatives were running from the building's entrance.

Shadowsan narrowed his eyes, gripping his sword even tighter and gritting his teeth.

She was right there. If they didn't act now, Carmen was gone for good.